Hawaii Volcanoes National Park plans reopening of lava tube

HILO, Hawaii – Officials say they plan to reopen a popular cave-like attraction in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park later this year.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports the Thurston Lava Tube, also known as Nahuku, has been closed since the Kilauea volcano eruption in May 2018.

Officials at the Big Island park closed the site out of fear its structural integrity might have been compromised from the thousands of earthquakes that occurred during the eruption.

Park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane says a scan of the tube’s interior is being compared to one taken before the eruption to determine if any structural changes would threaten safety.

She says the park also plans to improve parking near the site before the lava tube is reopened.

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Information from: Hawaii Tribune-Herald, http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/